Vintage or Modern Bathroom Decorating Styles

Which Bathroom Decorating Style Do You Prefer and Desire in your Bathroom Remodel

By Mark J. Donovan

Though most new home’s today sport modern bathroom decorating styles and designs, there are still some among us who are nostalgic and like the look of the old vintage bathroom. For those of you who are not familiar with vintage bathroom decorating styles, I’ll briefly explain. In the early 1900’s when the “out-house” became passé, and indoor plumbing became a reality people began to integrate small bathrooms into their home.

From today’s standards these original indoor vintage bathrooms were very basic and relatively small. They typically included just enough room for a tin, copper, or cast iron tub with claw feet, a toilet, and very basic sink.

Suffice it to say, for most people back then the vintage bathroom décor was very simple and functional. The bathroom was relatively stark and included little for decoration and looks. Beadboard or wainscoting was often used on the walls and they were most commonly painted white.

Other more elaborate variants of the vintage bathroom also sprung up in the early 1920s timeframe, particularly in more expensive homes of the wealthy. These vintage bathroom styles incorporated European styles and were actually quite elaborate. Some of these vintage bathroom decorating styles incorporated vanity tables and bureaus, along with copious amounts of mirrors. In addition, stainless steel and copper fixtures, along with marble flooring, were also commonly found in these bathrooms.

Vintage bathroom decorating styles can also include mid 1900’s style bathrooms. Often these types of bathrooms had a lot of wood work in them, along with very colorful paints and prints.

Though most new home’s today sport modern bathroom decorating styles and designs, there are still some among us who are nostalgic and like the look of the old vintage bathroom. For those of you who are not familiar with vintage bathroom decorating styles, I’ll briefly explain. In the early 1900’s when the “out-house” became passé, and indoor plumbing became a reality people began to integrate small bathrooms into their home.

From today’s standards these original indoor vintage bathrooms were very basic and relatively small. They typically included just enough room for a tin, copper, or cast iron tub with claw feet, a toilet, and very basic sink. Suffice it to say, for most people back then the vintage bathroom décor was very simple and functional. The bathroom was relatively stark and included little for decoration and looks. Beadboard or wainscoting was often used on the walls and they were most commonly painted white.

Other more elaborate variants of the vintage bathroom also sprung up in the early 1920s timeframe, particularly in more expensive homes of the wealthy. These vintage bathroom styles incorporated European styles and were actually quite elaborate.

Some of these vintage bathroom decorating styles incorporated vanity tables and bureaus, along with copious amounts of mirrors. In addition, stainless steel and copper fixtures, along with marble flooring, were also commonly found in these bathrooms.

Vintage bathroom decorating styles can also include mid 1900’s style bathrooms. Often these types of bathrooms had a lot of wood work in them, along with very colorful paints and prints.

As the decades moved forward in the 1900’s ceramic and porcelain tile became popular in bathroom flooring. Eventually Linoleum and vinyl also became commonplace bathroom flooring options. Similarly changes in bathtub and shower designs and materials also occurred. Today most modern bathrooms include fiberglass resin tub/shower units instead of cast iron ones. In addition, today’s modern bathrooms incorporate bathroom vanities that include drawers and cabinet space. They are made out of a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic.

Modern bathroom decorating styles traditionally incorporate whatever new products are available for the bathroom and that are considered fresh and young looking.

Though the modern bathroom decorating style is still the most common look in bathrooms today, both for style and cost reasons, vintage bathroom decorating styles are still in fashion. Many people still like the old classic plumbing pipes and fixture look of a vintage bathroom. In addition, they like the white and clean lines typically associated with old vintage bathroom designs, along with some of the elaborate bathroom decorating styles often found in the wealthier homes of the early 1900s.

So before deciding upon your bathroom decorating plans make sure to look through bathroom magazines and websites, as well as visiting various bathroom supply stores, to see what there is for both modern and vintage bathroom décor.

For help on your bathroom remodeling project, see my Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to prospective bathroom remodeling contractors. It also includes a comprehensive bathroom remodeling cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the contractor to include his projected remodeling costs for every phase of the project.

Related Information

Get Free Bathroom Remodeling Price Quotes with No Obligation!

Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote on bathroom remodeling from one of our prescreened and licensed bathroom remodeling contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to continue once you receive your bathroom renovation price estimate.